Mechanism for reciprocating planer-beds or similar purposes.



I. '1. HOUGHTON. nnclmmsu POB,BEGIPBOOATING PLANER BEDS OR SIMILAR PURPOSES.

' ABPLIOATIOH TILED JULY 6,1905.

1,014,706, Patented Jam 16,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. T. HOUGHTON. MECHANISM FOR REGIPROGATING PLANE-R BEDS OR SIMILAR PURPOSENS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYG, 1905.

1,014,706. Patented Jan. 16,1912.

*lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll||IIlIlllllilllllllll llllllllllllillllllllll l I To all whom itmay concern:

'UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIST. HOUGHTOH, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

KEOHANISM FOB BECIPBOCATING PLANE-LEEDS 0F, snmnn. PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

Application filed July 6, 1905. Serial in. 268,484.

Be it known that I, LEWIS T. HOUGHTON, a citizen of the Unitedstatea residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Mechanism for Reciprocating .Planer-Beds or for Similar Purposes, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved mechanism for converting rotary motion into rectilinear reciprocating motion.

The especial object of this invention is to I provide an improved construction adapted for reciprocating the tables of metal planing machines, or for other machinery.

To this end this invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification. V i

In the accompanying two sheets of drawing's, Figure 1 1s a bottom plan view partly in section of suflicient parts of a metal planmg machine to illustrate the application of this invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3 f Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view part1 in section of'suflicient parts of a metal p machine to illustrate the application of this invention to a metal planer in which a single driving rack and pinion are used, and Fig. 5 is a side view of the construction shown in Fig. 4. g

In ordinary machine-shop practice one of the least satisfactory operationsv is the finishmgjgf fiat metallic surfaces. This work is or arily done on metal planing machines of that class in which the workls mounted on a. reciprocating table, and is moved back and forth under' the cutting tool which is fed transversely between the successive strokes of the planer-table. In the use of this class of machines the speed of operation is by the shock and jar incident .tov

reversals of themotion of. the planer table,

- and'the character of the work is frequently injured by the shock and jar resulting when the cutting tool first strikes the edge of the block of metal being planed' or finished.

In this class of machines as now ordinarily used the reversals of the direction of travel of the table are usually accomplished by the shifting of belts.on a set of tight and loose pulleys. In order that reversals may be efiected promptly it is necessary to use narrow driving belts, and these belts must travel at high speed in order that suflicient power may be transmitted to the planer table to do the required work.

The especial object of my present invention is to provide a reciprocating mechanism in which the jar or shock of the reversal of the bed can be compensated for by a yielding connection between the driving inion -and bed. This yielding connection 1s also of advantage in overcoming jar or shock due to the first impact of the cutting tool with the block of metal being planed.

While my invention has been especially designed for use in metal planers, it is to be understood that the same is also applicable to various other machines in which heavy or cumbersome rocated. I

The yielding connection which I interpose between the driving pinion and the table or part to be reciprocated comprises a cylinder and piston. When the motion of the table in one direction terminates and the bed is to be started in the opposite direction the piston is forced into the cylinder- The cylinder preferably contains a liquid, such as oil, and the outlet from the cylinder is restricted so that the travel of the piston will give the desired yielding action or lost motion to revent jar or shock due to the reversals of the bed, and the piston preferably will not reach the end' of its travel until after the cutting tool has engaged with and started its cutting operation, whereby this yielding connection provides for the commencement of the cutting operation at a somewhat reduced speed, thus diminishing parts are required to be recipthe shock and jar which sometimes result versal of the table at the opposite ends of the stroke, I preferably employ two opposed cylinders which are connected by a restricted pipe or passage, and I prefer 'to put a throttling valve in this pipe or passage to regulatethe flow of the liquid to vary the cushionin effect to any desired degree.

Re erring to the accompanying drawing for a detail description of one form of apparatus embodying this invention, as shownin Fig. 1, 1O designates a driven part in the form of the bottom side of an' ordinary plan-er table and 11, 12'and 13 designate the uprights or posts forming part of the frameworkof the machine. The driving'connections for moving the planer table 10 in one direction comprise a shaft 14 journaled in the uprights 11 and 12, a' pulley 15 fastened rigidly upon the shaft 14, and a driving pinion 16 which is mounted loosely on the shaft 14'. The hub of the driving pinion 16 is provided with clutch teeth cooperating with a clutch-piece 17 splined upon the shaft 14. The driving pinion l6 meshes with a rack 18 whichis loosely mounted in the planer table 10, and preferably fits' into dovetailed ways therein as shown'in Fig. 3. A

similar set of devices are used for moving the planer table in the opposite direction, comprising a shaft 22 journaled in the posts 12 and 13' with a pulley 23 fastenedrigidly thereto, and a driving pinion 24 loose thereon. The hub of the driving pinion 24-.is provided with clutch teeth cooperating with the teeth of a clutch-piece 25 splined on the .shaft- 22. The driving pinion 24 meshes with a rack 27 which ismountedjloosely in from the rack 18. Fastened on the piston rod 19 in piston 20 mounted in a cylinder 21.,,:Extend1ng from the end of, the rack- 27 is a piston rod 28 carrying a piston 29 fitting into the cylinder 30. The cylinders 21 and 30 are opposed to each other and said cylininders are connected by a pipe or restricted passage 31 containing a throttling valve 32. 55

)In the use of a com lete metal laner as thus constructed-it wil be seen t at when the driving pinion 16 is thrown into 0 eration it will tend to force the piston 20 ack into the cylinder 21, andthat the travel of said piston will be opposed by the'resistance of liquid forced out of the cylinder through its restricted outlet. This provide a cushioning effect which will prevent the sud- I den shock or jardue to a too sudden reversal,

and will also permit the commencement of a cutting operation before the bed reaches its full speed, so that the jar to the machine and injury to the work due to tool-impact ,will also be avoided. When the piston bottoms or reaches the end of its cylinder the bed will be moved forward with a positive driving stroke, and liquid will have been forced into the cylinder 30 sothat the parts will be in position to have a similar opera- :tion when the otherr'eversal takes place and the pinion 24 is brought into operation. It will be seen therefore that an initially yielding, but finally solid connection is provided.

In the construction as thus far described, it is to be understood that I have shown my invention applied to the particular form of driving mechanism illustrated in the first sheet of drawings for the purpose of illustration merely, and that my invention is also applicable to any form of main driving mechanism in which a rack is used for moving the bed either forward or backward. For example as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, I

have illustrated a construction in which a single driving pinion is used, and which may "be turned in opposite directions by shifting thebelts onto tight and loose pulleys in the ordinary manner. ures, 40 designates the bottom side of a planer table, and 41 and 42 designate uprights or parts of the frame-work of the machine. The driving connections illustratedgin these figures comprise a shaft 43 journaled in the uprights 41 and 42. Secured upon theshaft 43 are tight pulleys 44 'and45, and a loose pulley 46. It is to be understood that these tight and loose pulleys ordinary manner- Aft its inner end the shaft 43 is provided with a driving pinion 47 Referring to these fig- 5 are to cooperate with shifting belts. in the which meshes with a loose rack 48 which may be dove-tailed into the planer table as in the constructions before described. Carried by the loose rack 48'is a piston rod 49 carrying a piston 50 mounted on a cylinder 51' secured to the bed. The opposite ends of by a pipe 52, and the flow ,of air or liquid from one end of the cylinder to the other end of the cylinder may be regulated by a throttle valve 53. -The operation of this form of construction is substantially the same as that before described, except that the table'is 'moved both forward "and back by a single driving rack, and a single cylinder and piston are used for yieldingly connecting the rack for both its forward and backward strokes, and in this construction, as before describedfthe rate of motion may be regulated by the throttle valve, although, of course, it may be understood that the piston can be fitted loose enough, or may have provision for suflicient leakage so that no piping the cylinder 51 may, if desired, beconnected s we .Y

would be required'. Although I havecalled .this a single cylinder, it will be. obviousthat That is to say while I have illustrated my.

invention applied to a form of driving mechanism in which two oppositely revolving driving pinionsare used in connection with two independently movable racks, it is obvious that my cushioning device may be used as a yi'eldin connection with-other forms of maindrivmg mechanism. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the construotion I have herein shown and described,

but

What I do claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination of the part to be reciprocated, a driving pinion, a rack, and a yielding driving connection between the rack and reciprocated part, comprising a piston and a fluid cylinder having a restricted outlet therefrom through which liq- 'uid is forced alternately in both directions by the travel of the piston.

2. The combination of the part to be reciprocated, a driving mechanism, and a yielding driving connectionbetween the reciprocated part and its driving mechanism comprising two opposed fluid cylinders, a restricted pipe or passage connecting the cylinders, and a piston mounted in each of saidcylinders. J I

3-. The combination of the part to be reciprocated, a driving mechanism, and a yielding driving connection between the reciprocated part and its driving mechanism comprising two opposed fluid cylinders, a pipe or passage connecting said cylinders, means for adjustablythrottling the flow of fluid through said pipe, and a piston moving in each of said cylinders.

4. .The combination of the table to be reciprocated, two racks, a driving mechanism for the racks comprising oppositely rotating shafts, a driving pinion on each of said shafts engaging one of said racks, a clutch for each of said driving pinions, a connection for simultaneously moving the clutches to disengage one clutch when the other clutch is thrown into operation, and yielding connections between the racks and table comprising two opposed cylinders secured near opposite ends of the table, a pipe connecting said cylinders, and a piston moved by each rack, said pistons being mounted in the cylinders.

5. The combination of a reciprocating bed, a driving pinion, a rack, and anmh ttially'yieldingbut finally solid drivin connaction comprising a piston and a fluid cylforced b thepiston until'a solid bearing iis reached "etween the piston andcylinder, lwhereupon a solidmechanicalconnection is formed between the rack and bed during further travel of. the'-bed.

6. The combination of a reciprocating bed, a driving pinion, a rack, and an initially yielding but finally solid driving connection between the rack and bed, said connection comprising a piston and a fluid cylinder having an adjustable outlet. through which liquid is forced by the piston until a solid bearing is reached between the piston and cylinder, whereupon a solid mechanical bed during the further travel of the bed.

7. The combination of a reciprocating part, a driving member therefor, and an initially yielding but finally solid driving connection between the driving member and reciprocating part, said connection comprising a piston and a fluid cylinder. having an outlet through which liquid is forced by the piston until a solid bearing is reached be tween the piston and cylinder, whereupon a.

solid mechanical connection is formed between the driving member and reciprocating part during the further travel of said reciprocating part.

8. The combination of a reciprocating driven part, a driving and reversing part, and connected yielding connections for preventing a sudden shock at the beginning of both the forward and reversestrokes and for inection between the rack and-bed, sai coniinder having an outletthrough which liquid 4 connection is formed between the rack and g transmitting the motion of the driving part I positively and unyieldingly to the driven. part, during the greater part of the forward and reverse strokes.

9. The combination of a driven part, a driving and reversing part, and two connections for preventing a sudden shock at the beginning of both the forward and reverse strokes, said connections being connected with each other, and each one serving as a solid connection when theother is in condition to yield.

10. The combination .of a reciprocating drive-n art, a driving and reversing partcomprising two movable elements, a piston rigidly connected with each of said elements, a cylinder for each of saidpistons, and a connection'between s'aid cylinders, whereby a fluid may be forced from one to the other and in the reverse direction during the be ginning of the'reverse stroke to relieve a sudden shock at the beginning of each of the strokes.

11. The combination of a reciprocating driven part, a driving part comprising two during the beginning of the forward stroke,-

inde endently movable, elements, a, piston my hand, in the presence-of two subscribing 'rlgi ly connected with each of sa1d elements, w1tnesses.

sald istons being located on opposite ends a I 4 of said elements, a cylinder for each of said 7 LEWIS HOUGHTON' 5 pistons, and means'for restrictin the L ,s- Witnesses:

sage of fluid to and from each 0 nder. LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE,

Intestimony whereof I have ereunto set PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

